I’ve been reading about 3D printing in the news and on blogs over the past few years, and there are some industrial designers and architects who are doing some amazing things with the technology. Certainly for professionals like these, the ability to do rapid prototyping is incredibly helpful. The more I read, however, the more I am sure that this technology needs to mature a lot more before I jump on the home-use bandwagon.

The promise of affordable prosthetic limbs and other medical applications are especially thrilling. Even just recalling of all the times I’ve thought to myself, “if only I had a way to make a thing that does x” keeps me going back to the Makerbot site again and again.

I am not ready to shell out for one yet, however. Here’s why.

1. The Circle Is Broken

My overwhelming feeling is that all we’re doing with home 3D printing is making more landfill – we just have a more expensive way of doing it.

Anything you can make with most 3D printers is non-recyclable. You need special kinds of plastic to work in a 3D printer, and neither it nor the printed end product can be recycled in a typical city recycling program, or composted. The good news is that at least now some 3D printers use PLA, a much more eco-friendly plastic, even if it isn’t perfect. While PLA is plant-sourced and biodegradable, it doesn’t break down in landfills, and it’s made out of food plants that could be used to feed people.

Once we’re able to complete the circle, and we’re able to put things we’ve made back into the 3D printer and have it turned into a whole new thing – then we’ll really have something. Luckily we’re closer to this than ever with some printers, like the Filabot reclaimer, which can eat everyday plastic. That’s not true of all of them yet though.

2. All You Can Make Is Plastic (So Far)

A comic book called “Transmetropolitan” by Warren Ellis depicted a near-future world in which a machine called a ‘maker’ could create anything you wanted instantly: food, a new linen suit, or computer glasses. Similarly, the Star Trek replicator is often referenced in enthusiastic 3D printer advertising copy.

3. 3D Printing Encourages Compulsive Consumerism

Are the little plastic bits and pieces you get out of a home 3D printer much different from the stuff you get from the local store? Why create a Rubik’s cube yourself when you can just buy one for less and start playing?

Part of the problem with our culture is that we’re never happy with the things we have. Last week’s delight is tomorrow’s junk. Because everything is so cheaply made, quality of design (i.e. fitness for use) and longevity are not given as much priority.

It may sound like the pinnacle of hypocrisy for me to say this, as most of my blog posts are about the joys and challenges of learning to make things yourself according to your own designs. But the kinds of things we can make using 3D printing technology seems by and large useless to me. Sure, you can make your own tchotchkes and Christmas tree ornaments, but why not purchase something hand-made by an artist if that’s what you want? Or better yet take the time to learn the skills of glass-blowing or pottery or carving?

Maybe Tomorrow…

I still have hope that 3D printing will turn out to be the next societal game changer. I have seen some reasons to use 3D printing that seem great to me, like this gardener who created his own custom seedling supports, for example. I am definitely looking forward to the time when 3D printing starts living up to the hype. Maybe the real problem is that I have unrealistic expectations. But until I can find real uses for the things that I could make, I’m going to stay in the back seat and keep asking, “are we there yet?”

What do you think? Am I way off base here? I’d love it if you share your thoughts in the comments below.

Jennifer, this is a very thoughtful post on 3D printing and you should be congratulated for exploring the subject in more detail. I tend to compare the state of desktop 3D printing today to the introduction of the first personal computers in the early 1980s. Then, as with 3D printers today, we logically asked questions such as what good can come from this computing tool? But I think it’s reasonable to expect that today’s 3D printers, much like the PC of the 80’s, will evolve from its early days. In my mind, I see 3D printing not so much through the lens of what can this technology make for me, but rather how I can learn to transform an idea into something more tangible. 3D printing, as this link below reveals, can be especially useful as a learning-educational tool:http://www.youthquestfoundation.org/why-3d-printing-is-a-great-teaching-tool-for-at-risk-youth/
Regards,
Luc

Housecraft

Thanks for you comment, Luc – I am very keen to see how the technology
develops and I think your comparison to the computers of the 80’s is
probably a good one. It certainly seemed to benefit the kids in the program in
your link.

Housecraft

Thanks for you comment, Luc – I am very keen to see how the technology
develops and I think your comparison to the computers of the 80’s is
probably true. It certainly seemed to benefit the kids in the program in
your link.